[Evolution of electrohysterogram signals synchronization according to term of pregnancy: interest for preterm labor...

Our study focuses on the analysis of the uterine electromyogram recorded on women during pregnancy. We were interested in evaluating the synchronization of this electrical signal at various terms in order to follow evolution of synchronization as labor approaches. This study attempts to deepen our understanding of the myometrial maturation close to labor and to provide reliable parameters for improving preterm labor diagnosis.

We performed a prospective study by recording the electrical signals of physiological uterine contractions (causing no delivery) on 16 pregnant women. We then calculated the non-linear correlation coefficient h(2) to estimate synchronization between EMG signals collected for each contraction. We expressed the results by grouping synchronization values by class of term in order to study the evolution of this coefficient along gestation. This study has been approved by the ethical committee of our hospital.

Our results show a non-significant increase of the h(2) value along term. There is however a trend towards an increase of the synchronization of EMG signals as labor approaches but not enough to conclude definitively.

With a confirmation of the increase of h(2) along term, the study of the synchronization of uterine electrical activity could be an important clue to support the notion of myometrial maturation close to labor. Synchronization analysis could also be a promising parameter for reliable diagnosis of preterm labor.